By Leonard Kamugisha Akida,
KAMPALA
At the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) – Katonga faction’s National Delegates Conference on Monday, members resolved to dissolve their party and create a new formation. This decision follows a bitter split from the main FDC group over allegations of mismanagement, misuse of office, and illegal funding.
The move follows a bitter split from the main FDC group over allegations of mismanagement, misuse of office, and illegal funding. Delegates cited the need for a fresh start, free from the baggage of the past.
Presenting the National Executive Committee (NEC) report, FDC Katonga interim president Erias Lukwago stated that most party members, except those from Teso, Acholi, and Rwenzori sub-regions, favored dissolving the party according to Article 36 of the FDC constitution.
“Some scanty voices of reconciliation came through, particularly from Teso Sub region [during consultative meetings]. Rwenzori and Acholi sub regions too mooted a proposal of making attempts at reconciliation with Najjanankumbi renegades and if that fails a new formation be established,” said Lukwago.
The article stipulates that dissolution requires a two-thirds majority vote, a six-month notice period, resolution from two-thirds of district conferences, and support from at least 80% of delegates.
The report further recommended initiating the dissolution process, forming a new political party, and coalescing with other viable formations. The motion to dissolve FDC was adopted, with the party now having six months to process the dissolution and transfer assets.
Article 36 of the FDC constitution provides that, 1. “The National Delegates Conference or the special conference may dissolve the party by two third majority of all delegates of National Delegates Conference and transfer the assets and liabilities of the party,” 2. There must be a notice of at least six months. 3. There must be a resolution from 2/3 of the district conferences. And, 4. The resolution must be supported by at least 80 percent of the attendance of the delegates conference.
The party now has six months to process the dissolution and transfer assets to a new entity.
FDC founding President Col. Dr. Kizza Besigye, who was present at the conference, warned members of potential challenges ahead, urging them to withstand pressures and fight for fundamental change. “Rebuild Power 10,” Besigye said urged members working towards creating change in the country.
“You have another duty within the six months. I think within those six months, we must do everything in our power to make sure that the new formation is in a news environment altogether. Are we together, not a new formation in prison also? And it’s possible,” said Besigye.
Besigye charged the youth not to bow to the pressures of the government such as intimidations, arrests but, rather to use their youthful days to fight for a new Uganda.
“The young people especially, this struggle is for the young people, not for me. I am in the evening of my years – “Nze Mbalwanilira.” I am only fighting on your behalf, not for myself. I have nothing to fight for myself. But as they say, “The closest relative of the dead person is the one who touches the most problematic place,” as young people stand up and be counted, get up and we remove this nonsense, and we reorganize our country,” he said.
Additionally, the former Besigye warned against greed for dirty money and spread of false propaganda if they are to fight for a change of governance in a country governed under the influence of money. He said, fear, money and false propaganda are dangerous enemies of Uganda’s politics which members in the new formation must avoid.
“Apart from fear, the second most dangerous enemy we are facing is money. Museveni is using money to control us. It means if we have to fight to overcome him, we must overcome the temptation to be controlled by his money. Are we together?” ” We must overcome money because it was part of the problem […] We are here to fight whether we have money, whether there is food, whether there isn’t, tighten your belt until you get where we are going.”
